How a player-focused vision built a premier St. Louis wheelchair tennis tournament

The draw of the event for players is two-fold. First, Zolman and the other organizers ask the players for suggestions on a regular basis. They have a post-tournament survey that gets a good response. They even ask the participants what type of food they want.

The second main draw is Green, the former No. 1-ranked wheelchair tennis singles player and currently the No. 1-ranked doubles player in America for his division.

“Kevin is really the backbone of our tournament,” Zolman said. “Kevin recruits everybody. He is our big piece. He plays in able-bodied tournaments, too, so everybody knows him and follows him.”

Zolman credited a large group of volunteers for making the tournament so enjoyable for the participants. He also said that DoubleTree Hotel, which has a swimming pool and is connected to the indoor tennis facility, makes enduring the intense summer heat a non-factor.

Zolman was drawn to wheelchair tennis through his friendship with Green. Zolman noted the game is not too different other than the fact that two bounces are allowed prior to a stroke. He learned to play wheelchair tennis to better teach the sport in his role at CAC.

“Kevin came to me one day about helping him because he didn’t have a coach any more,” Zolman said. “I said OK, and I just fell in love with it. I love working with these guys.”

Every Player Matters

The proceeds from the tournament go to prize money and to PUSH Wheelchair Tennis Academy, a nonprofit that teaches tennis to kids in wheelchairs.

One of PUSH’s main focuses is bringing more youth players into the sport. The tournament will provide scholarships to juniors to build up that clientele.

“It’s another growth spot,” Zolman said. “The number of youth players peaked two years ago when we had a ton of juniors, but they’ve all gotten better and moved on to higher levels.”

The biggest reason for the event’s success, however, is making the tournament fun for competitors. Free equipment repairs are offered on chairs during the tourney. Prize money is awarded for the winners of each adult division, including the Coed D division for beginners.

“We want players of every level, including those lower levels, to feel like they’re pros,” Zolman said. “We give prize money to every level. Even if you just started and you’re in the D level, if you win we give you money.”

Zolman noted the individuals who participate have to go through so much just to take the court.

“You see what these people go through in their daily routines of life, and you realize that you didn’t think about the ADA,” he said. “When Kevin played high school tennis at Oakville High School, his teammates would carry him down the steps because that’s the only way. He couldn’t get there otherwise.

“We tend to take those things for granted.”

That appreciation makes it even more satisfying to focus on the players.

Learn more about the 2026 St. Louis Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Championships here. Check out wheelchair tennis programming throughout the USTA Missouri Valley here.